Apparatus for coiling filaments



July 24, 1951 E. D. HANSON APPARATUS FOR COILING FILAMENTS 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 31. 1947 INVENTOR ED. HANSON ATTORNEY July 24, 1951 E. D. HANSON APPARATUS FOR comma FILAMENTS 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 31. 1947 FIG. 2

/A/l EN TOR E0. HANSON A TTOR/VEV July 24, 195] E. D. HANSON APPARATUS FOR COILING FILAMENTS 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed March 31, 1947 //v l/EN 70/? E 0. HA NSON A T TORNEV July 24, 1951 E. D. HANSON APPARATUS FOR COILING FILAMENTS 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed March 31, 1947 //v|//v 70/? ED. HANSON By 5 ATTORNEY Patented July 24, 1951 APPARATUS FOR COILING FILAMEN'I'S Estyle D. Hanson, Western Electric Baltimore, Md., alsignor to Company, Incorporated, New

York, Y., a corporation of New York Application March 31, 1947, Serial No. 738,444

7 Claims.

This invention relates to apparatus for coiling filaments, and more particularly to apparatus for continuously coiling covered conductors into a series of coils.

In some processes of manufacture of elongated filamentary articles such as, for example, jacketed or 'insulated conductors, the filamentary articles are formed or processed continuously by suitable apparatus and are advanced from the apparatus continuously, after which the elongated articles are coiled and severed into a series of coils. In the past, no apparatus has been provided for easily coiling such articles without stopping the processing apparatus between coils. For example, in continuous insulating and vulcanizing machines the apparatus must be stopped between terminating one coil and starting another' coil, whereby a portion of the article being vulcanized may be overcured.

An object of the invention is to provide new and improved apparatus for coiling filaments.

An apparatus illustrative of certain features of the invention includes a pair of takeup reels, means for driving one of the takeup reels, means for driving the other takeup reel, means for actuating alternatively the two reel-driving means, a distributor for distributing a conductor uponv the takeup reels and means for connecting the distributor automatically to the two reel-driving means. A pair of pan-like housings partially cover the takeup reels, and a cover movable into position covering one of the housings from a position covering the other housing serves to operate the actuating means. Each of the pan-like housings have an openable segment, which is automatically opened by the cover when it stops one of the reels and starts the other reel.

A complete understanding of the invention may be obtained from the following detailed description of an apparatus forming a specific embodiment thereof, when read in conjunction with the appended drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a fragmentary front elevation of an apparatus formin g one embodiment of the inven- IOII;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary vertical section taken along line 2-2 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary real elevation of the apparatus;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view of a portion of theapparatus;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary vertical section taken alonglineHofFig.4;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged, fragmentary vertical section taken along line H of Fig. 2, and

Fig. 7 is an enlarged, fragmentary section taken along line 1-1 of Fig. 6.

Referring now in detail to the drawings a Jacketed conductor l0 (Fig. 1) is advanced from an apparatus, such as a continuous insulating and vulcanizing machine (not slglwn) under a guide sheave l2 and a distributor s eave'l4 either to a segmental collapsible reel It or to a segmental collapsible reel ll. The collapsible reels; IB'and I! per se are described in detail and are claimed in copending application, Serial No. 704,819, now Patent 2,459,336, filed October 22, 1946, by P. R. Powell. An electric motor 20 drives the collapsible reel l8, and an electric motor 22 drives the collapsible reel It. The motors 20 and. 22 are variable speed motors of well known types, such as torque motors, for example. Pan-like housings 24 and 26 partially enclose the reels l6 and II, respectively, .and have openings 25 and 21 therein to provide an unobstructed path to th reels from the distributor sheave l4. Limi' v switches 22 and II in the control circuits of the motors 22 and 22 control the energization of these motors.

A cover 22 (Fig. 2) mounted on a shaft 24 (Fig. 1) is movable between a position covering the reel l6 and the housing 24 to position covering the reel I8 and the housing 26. When the covering is moved from the housing 24 to the housing 28, a dog 26 carried by the shaft 24 is moved out of engagement with the limit switch 22 to deenergize the electric motor 20 and into engagement with the limit switch 28 to start the electric motor 22 to rotate the reel It. A lobe 28 (Fig. 2) of a cam 40 carried by the shaft 34 moves into engagement with a cam follower 42 mounted on an arm 43 fastened to a shaft 44. This rotates the shaft 44 to move through an arm 45 a segment 46 of the pan-like housing 24 to an open position so that a coil positioned on the reel It in the housing 24 may be tied. The cam 40 also includes a dwell 41 and a lobe 48, and. as the cover is moved from the housing 24 to the housing 28, a cam follower 52 carried by an arm I3 secured to a shaft 54 is engaged by the dwell 41.

I This permits a segment 56 of the housing 26 carried by an arm 55 fastened to the shaft 54 to close by gravity so that the reel I8 is completely covered when the motor 22 is started.

When the cover is moved from a position covering the housing 26 to a position covering the housing 24, the dog 38 moves out of engagement with the switch 28 and into engagement with the limit switch ll. This deenergizes the motor 22 to stop the reel II and energizes the motor 2| to start the reel l6. The cam 40 also is moved so that the dwell 41 is moved into engagement with the cam follower 42, and the lobe 48 is moved into engagement with the follower 62. This opens the segment 66, and permits the segment 46 to close by gravity. The segments 46 and 66 provide access to the coils on the reels to facilitate tying the coils after they are formed by the reels.

The distributor sheave I4 is mounted on a rotatable shaft 66, which is slidably mounted in bearings 6 l-6| formed on a housing 62. A forked lever 63 fastened by a pin 56 to the shaft 60 is mounted pivotally on a roller 64 (Figs. 6 and '7) mounted rotatably by needle bearings 65-65 on an eccentric 66 formed on a bolt 61, which is adjustably mounted in a vertical slot 66 formed in the housing 62. A nut 69 threaded on the bolt 61 and the eccentric 66 formed on the bolt 61, serve, with washers l'|0. to secure the bolt rigidly to the housing 62. The roller 64 projects with a slight amount of clearance through an elongated slot ll formed in the lever 63, which has a cam follower 12 mounted on the lower end thereof. A tension spring I3 (Fig. 2) urges the lever 63 in a counterclockwise direction to hold the follower 12 against a distributor cam 14 mounted on a shaft 16, and to hold the lever against the right hand side of the roller 64, as viewed in Fig. '7.

The shaft II is rotated through gearing 16 (Fig. 3) driven by a shaft TI. The shaft 11 is connected to the motor 20 by a one-way clutch l6, and is connected to the motor 22 by a oneway clutch'6ll. When the motor 20 is energized and the motor 22 is not energized, the shaft 11 is driven through the one-way clutch 18 without afiecting the static condition of the motor 22 and the reel l6. Conversely, when the motor 22 is energized and the motor 26 is not energized, the shaft 21 is driven through the one-way clutch 80 and transmits no force to the reel l6 and the motor 20. when the shaft I1 is driven by either the clutch 16 or the clutch 60, the distributor cam 14 is rotated and the lever 63 is oscillated to move. by means of the shaft 66, the distributor sheave l4 back and forth across the faces of the reels I6 and I8 so that the distributor sheave l4 distributesthe jacketed conductor l6 upon whichever reel is being rotated.

The nut 63 (Fig. 6) may be loosened and the bolt 61 rotated to rotate the eccentric 66 in the slot H in the lever 63 to laterally adjust the throw of the distributor sheave l4. Also, the bolt 61 may be raised or lowered in the slot 66 in the housing 62, to vary the length of throw of the distributor sheave [4 by changing the proportions of its lever arms. Thus, the throw of the distributor sheave may be adjusted laterally merely by turning the bolt 61 to a new position and resecuring it against movement, and the length of throw may be adjusted merely by raising or lowering the bolt and resecuring it. Since the upper end of the lever 63, as viewed in Fig. 2,

reciprocates in a horizontal path the lever moves up and down relative to the roller 64. The roller 64 is free to rotate in the slot H in the lever 63 due to the clearance therein, so that wear of the left hand wall of the slot, as viewed in Fig. 7, which, due to the action of the spring 13, is the only portion of the lever in contact with the roller 64 is obviated.

The sheave I2 is mounted rotatably on a shaft 62 (Fig. carried by a standard 64. An arm 86 fastened to a shaft 66 carries a presser roll 90 mounted rotatabl on a shaft 62. A tension hereinabove, the conductor I0 is advanced to the right, as viewed in Fig. 3, and is distributed by the distributor sheave l4 upon the reel l6, which is completely enclosed by the pan-like housing 26, the cover 32 positioned in front 'of the housing 26 and the segment 66, which is closed when the motor 22 is energized. The motor 22 is energized when the cover 32 is positioned in front of the housing 26 since the dog 36 actuates the switch 28 at this time, since the switch 26 is engaged by the dog 36. Meanwhile. a coil previously wound on the reel I6 is tied and removed therefrom.

After the reel l8 has coiled a full coil thereon, an operator of the apparatus moves the cover 32 to a point between the two reels. This moves the dog 36 away from the limit switch 26 which deenergizes the motor 22 so that it stops and the rotation of the reel I6 ceases. The operator cuts the conductor ID at a point between the distributor sheave l4 and the reel l6 and fastens the newly formed end of the conductor to the reel l6. While the reel I8 is stopped and the conductor is cut, the presser roll 96 presses the conductor against the sheave l2 to prevent the conductor from sliding out of the sheave l2. That is, the arms 66 and 96, the spring 64, the sheave l2 and the presser roll 30 act as a one-way brake and permit the conductor to advance to the right, as viewed in Fig. 1, but prevent movement of the conductor to the left. I

The newly formed end of the conductor .then is fastened to the takeup reel l6 and the cover 32 is moved from its position mid-way between the two reels to a position in front of the reel l6. This moves the dog 36 into actuating engagement with the limit switch 30 and opens fully the segment 56. Simultaneously therewith the segment 46 of the housing 24 is moved by gravity into a closed position. Actuation of the switch 36 by the dog 36 starts the motor 26, the reel I6 is rotated to wind the conductor l0 thereon into a coil, and the distributor sheave l4 distributes the conductor l0 thereon. The coil on the reel l6 then may be tied and removed from thatreel.

The motors 20 and 22 rotate at speeds high enough to cause any slack in conductor I0 to the left of the sheave l2, as viewed in Fig. 3, to be taken up soon after the start of either of these motors, and when the slack in the conductor is taken up, the motor is prevented from overrunning by tension in the conductor I 6.

The housings 24 and 26. the segments 46 and 56 and the cover 32 completely enclose the reels l6 and I8 whenever either of these reels is rotated so that there is no donger to an operator of the apparatus. Each of the movable segments 46 and 66 is movable automatically to an open position when the reel with which it is associated is stopped so that a coil on that reel may be tied and removed without interfering with the guarding actions of the segments. The cover 32 automatically stops the particular reel which it has been covering when it is moved away therefrom,-and serves to start the other reel when it is moved into a position to cover the latter reel. The removable cover also provides access to an empty reel to fasten newly formed ends of a conductor to that reel without delay.

- What is claimed is:

1. Adual-purpose apparatus for coiling filaments, which comprises a pair of takeup reels, means for driving one of the takeup reels, means for driving the other takeup reel, an actuator for/ simultaneously starting one of the reel-driving means and stopping the other reel driving means,' a guard movable between a position in front of one of the takeup reels to a position in front of the other takeup reel, and means operable by the guard to operate the actuator when the guard is moved from a position in front of one of the reels to a position in front of the other reel.

2. A dual-reel takeup apparatus, which comprises a pair of takeup reels, means for driving one of. the takeup reels, means for driving the other takeup reel, an actuator for simultaneously starting one of the reel-driving means and stopping the other reel driving means, a cover movable between a position over one of the takeup reels to a position over the other takeup reel, and means operable by the cover to operate the actuator when the cover is moved from a position in front of one of the reels to a position in front of the other reel.

3. A'dual-reel takeup apparatus, which comprises a pair of takeup reels mounted in close proximity, a housing having an opening therein and also provided with an openable segment for partially enclosing one of the takeup reels, a second housing having an opening therein and also provided with an openable segment for partially enclosing the other takeup reel, a cover movable from the opening in one of the housings to the opening in the other, and means operable by the cover for closing the openable segment of the housingto which the cover is moved and for opening housing.

4. A dual-reel takeup apparatus, which comprises a pair of takeup reels mounted in close proximity, a housing having an openable segment for partially enclosing one of the takeup reels and also provided with an opening therein, a second housing having an openable segment for partially enclosing the other takeup reel and also provided with an opening therein, a shaft, a cover secured rigidly to the shaft and pivotable from the opening in one of the housings to the opening in the other, and cam means operable by the shaft for closing the segment of one of the housings and for opening the segment of the other'housing.

5. A dual-reel takeup apparatus, which comprises a takeup reel, means for driving the takeup the openable segment of the other Ill reel, 'a housing having an opening therein and also provided with an openable segment partially enclosing the takeup reel, a second takeup reel. a second reel-driving means for driving the second takeup reel, 8, second housing having an opening therein and also provided with a second openable segment for partially enclosing the second takeup reel, 3, cover movable between a position covering the opening in one of the housings and a position covering the opening in the other housing, means operable by the cover for stopping one of the reel-driving means and starting the other when the cover is moved from one housing to the other to start the takeup reel covered by the last-mentioned housing and stop the other takeup reel, and means operable by such movement of the cover to open the segment of the housing coveringthe reel being stopped and for closing the segment of the other housing.

6. A dual-reel takeup apparatus, which comprises a takeup reel, means including a electric motor for driving the takeup reel, a housing having an opening therein for partially enclosing the takeup reel, a second takeup reel, a second reel-driving means including a second electric motor for driving the second takeup reel, a second housing having an opening therein for partially enclosing the second takeup reel, a cover movable between a position covering the opening in one of the housings and a position covering the opening in the other housing, and means including a pair of limit switches operable by the cover for stopping one of the motors and starting the other when the cover is moved from one housing to the other to start the takeup reel covered by the last-mentioned housing and stop the other takeu reel.

' 7. A dual-reel takeup apparatus, which comprises a takeup reel, means including an electric motor for driving the takeup reel, a housing having an opening therein and also provided with an openable segment for partially enclosing the takeup reel, a second takeup reel, a second reeldriving means including a second electric motor for driving the second takeup reel," a second housing having an opening and also provided with a second openable segment for partially enclosing the second takeup reel, a cover movable between a position covering the opening in one of the housings and a position covering the opening in the other housing, means operable by the cover for stopping one of the motors and! starting the other when the cover is moved from one housing to the other to start the takeup reel covered by the last-mentioned housing and stop.

the other takeup reel, means operable by such movement of the cover for opening the segment of the housing covering the reel being stopped and for closing the' segment of the other housing, a distributor for distributing a strand-on the takeup reels, a one-way clutch for connecting the distributor to the first reel-driving means. and a second one-way clutch for connecting the distributor to the second reel-driving means.

ESTYLE D. HANSON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Certificate of Correction Patent No. 2,561,736 July 24, 1951 ESTYLE D. HANSON It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requirmg correction as follows:

Column 1, line 48, for real read rear; column 2, line 29, for covering read cover; column 5, line 2, for dual-purpose read dual-reel;

and that the said Letters Patent should be read as corrected above, so that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this 16th day of October, A. D. 1951.

THOMAS F. MURPHY,

Assistant Oomnissioner of Patents. 

